The Guardian Exclusive: RAF bases are hotspots of ‘forever chemical’ groundwater pollution, MoD documents show. Sampling results show ‘extremely concerning’ concentrations of PFOS and PFOA at sites across UK.
RAF bases are hotspots of toxic “forever chemical” pollution in water, analysis of Ministry of Defence documents has revealed. Moreover, some of the highest concentrations of these chemicals in British drinking water sources are near RAF bases, official sampling results obtained by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations show. Cecilia MacLeod, a leading remediation expert, said:
“The concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in the groundwaters at these sites is extremely concerning. If there is no intervention, ie a remediation system installed to treat the groundwater and prevent offsite migration, then the MoD could be considered to be breaking the Environmental Protection Act.”
